Spring Plans For Our Homestead

A few days ago at Peaceful Forest

Things are looking up for us, in this past week. A very good week, I must say! Last week I FINALLY got a buyer for my parents' home. Not only that, but the buyer is a local business man and will not turn their home into a dumpy looking place. That was one thing I was dreading since I do have sentimental feelings for their property. Hopefully, that closing will take place in the next couple of weeks or so. Depends on how fast the lawyers get their work done.

Last summer

The other thing that I am very happy about is that our guitar strings are finally selling! And selling good! We opened a ProStore on Amazon and it has made the difference. Every day we have sales now. I love listing the products and have them sell while I am still working on adding more. It has made my husband a very happy man!

Last Saturday

I am also selling on eBay. Just auctions. Every month they give you that deal of 50 free auctions. You only pay fees if they sell. I like that. So every month I try to list at least 50. Only now I am out of things to sell. If I list something that doesn't sell the first time, I will relist it. If it doesn't sell the next time, in the box to the thrift store it goes! I have an idea of what to sell. So when the weather gets warmer, we will be making a trip to our local thrift stores and yard sales for more products. The kind that sell, of course!

Winter 2013

My eBooks are still selling pretty good on Amazon in their Kindle Shop. I am pretty happy with that. I have been working on re-editing those books though. Maybe have them professionally edited and formatted after I finish. I will add about 40 more pages to them. Some pictures too. I am also working on another one that is not nearly done yet.

Summer 2012

For the most part, I am looking forward to the spring and being able to start my seeds for my garden. I am hoping all goes through with my parents' home being sold with no problems. My son will be moving near his friends into his own place. Then we can get back to our life. Still missing my Nikita, but am able to go on and focus on other things for now. No more dogs for me. Hurts too much when their short life is over. I am planning on spending some time with my horses this year. Making some changes in the barn to give them more room, and get that stall for Tawny. Lots of plans for our house, but I will write about that later.

Copyright © 2013 Kathleen G. Lupole

All Photographs Copyright © 2013  Kathleen G. Lupole

Think Happy Thoughts, Think Happy Thoughts

katlupe's evergreen tree

I am one of those people who hopefully, look forward to the new coming year. Every year I have high hopes of life being better than ever. Can it be so? When you think about it, each year over means I am one year older. My life as I know it, has increased the odds of losing significant people in my life. Or my pets, who I love dearly. I hate to look on the bad side of things, but it has gotten to the point where instead of looking forward to better times or a great life, I worry about who I will lose in the coming year. Be it a member of my family, a friend, a pet or a celebrity I admire, or now an online friend.

So instead of focusing on such downers in this holiday season, I am focusing on only the good thoughts and hope that my outlook will improve and lighten up. Things I am looking forward to this coming year are:

• To actually make money on my blogs so I can focus on my writing instead of scrounging for sales on Bonanza and my websites.
• To finish updating my eBooks and market them to a bigger audience. If so, I can write more eBooks.
• To really work on my novel and get it finished.
• To make a dent in our house remodeling which is being held up by money mainly. This includes bringing the water into the house so we have running water, insulation all done, wiring all inside and up to code, floors, walls, windows, kitchen finished, downstairs bedroom and bathroom all according to our plans.
• To add the lean-to on the back of our barn, so we can build box stalls inside and I can get Tawny inside when the weather is bad. The other two girls won't let her in the barn even to get water lately. My husband has been carrying buckets of water out to her so she can drink.
• I would like to buy a second vehicle without a payment instead of having to drive the truck everywhere.
• Spend more time with my horses.
• Work doubly hard on our preparedness goals! 
• Concentrate on our budget so that every single penny is spent diligently.
• Develop a homesteading course for people who would be interested in spending a week-end camping here and learning the modern homesteading lifestyle for their life.

These are not New Year Resolutions, they are my goals and things I really need to work on. I am trying to make our life easier. And as crass as it sounds, money has to be one of those things. I wish I could say I don't need it and if it comes so be it. But things are very tough right now and the cost of living keeps getting higher and higher even though our wonderful Social Security system keeps telling us there has not been an increase in the cost of living since 2008! Who are they kidding? What planet are they living on? Whoever is in charge there and made that decision is truly on drugs! Pretty soon all the people on Social Security such as my 91 year old father, will have to apply for welfare and food stamps to live. So I have to take into account that my blogs need to bring in enough to keep them going.

I didn't mean to go off on that subject. It is just an irritation to me. I am planning to make a little bit of changes around here and am looking forward to it and that is what my list is all about. What about you? Are there things you need to focus on this year? Things you want to change in your life? Not just money, it could be other things too. Tell me about them in the comments. 

Come back again and please have a safe, happy homesteading day!

Copyright © 2010  Kathleen G. Lupole

All Photographs Copyright © 2010  Kathleen G. Lupole